2 Samuel 15:35
ESV
Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king 's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
NIV
Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.
NASB
Are Zadok and Abiathar the priests not with you there? So it shall be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
CSB
Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Report everything you hear from the palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.
NLT
Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there. Tell them about the plans being made in the king’s palace,
KJV
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
NKJV
And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
What does 2 Samuel 15:35 mean?
David is weeping and fleeing and protecting his people while cursing his betrayers and keeping faith in God. David submits to God's plan, contemplating his death and strategizing all at the same time. His son Absalom is closing in on Jerusalem, bent on destroying David and taking the throne. First and foremost, David needs to get his people to safety.He's with his servants, two units of Philistine bodyguards, and one group of Philistine mercenaries (2 Samuel 13:14–23). As he supervises his vulnerable people passing through, the priests Abiathar and Zadok arrive with Levites and the ark of the covenant. They fully intended to follow David into exile, but David stopped them. The ark belongs to God, not the king. It needs to stay in Jerusalem, and the priests and Levites need to stay with the ark. But that doesn't mean the priests are useless. They can spy on Absalom and pass along his plans through their sons. David will wait at the fords of the Jordan River for their message (2 Samuel 15:24–29).
As David climbs the Mount of Olives, he hears that his counselor, Ahithophel, has sided with Absalom. He's even more devasted, not just because he has lost a source of wisdom but because Absalom has gained one. All he can do is pray that God will poison Ahithophel's typical wisdom (2 Samuel 15:30–31).
God answers his prayer. A moment later, David meets his old friend Hushai. He sends Hushai back to Jerusalem to infiltrate Absalom's counsel and counter whatever good idea Ahithophel comes up with. Hushai can find out Absalom's plans and tell Abiathar and Zadok. Abiathar and Zadok can send word to their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan. And Ahimaaz and Jonathan can warn David (2 Samuel 15:36–37).
That's exactly what happens. Thanks to five spies—and two brave women—David and his people make it to safety (2 Samuel 17).
